30 September 2014

Ruminations - 30sep14

'My Uncle Frank in Chicago was a staunch Conservative, and voted straight Republican until the day he died. Since then he has voted Democrat.' (H/T to reader)

George Rebane

Measure S proponents have an ex parte court hearing tomorrow to change the wording on the ballot that has been known to all since last April. These progressives have taken a page from their eco-nut brethren who know how to time lawsuits on projects they oppose so as to drain the cash out of the enterprise no matter the merit of the suits or how they are settled. Now it seems that the pro-S crowd is after the county’s coffers, which, of course, duns us all.

Moonbeam will allow police drones to search your property without a warrant. So don’t get all excited when you see a quadcopter with a sheriff’s star on it hovering outside your window. That will inject a new dynamic into the dialogue with (fancy wording for ‘frost the balls of’) our marijuana growers. How many ways does Big Brother need to watch us?

Giving new meaning to Teflon President, Obama just threw Team Clapper under the bus, claiming that our intelligence community didn’t have a clue about the rise of the ISIS ragheads. The public truth is quite the opposite. The Great Golfer was warned all last year in confidential briefings and publicly (by LTG Flynn, DIA) last February in a taped congressional hearing. Flynn nailed it, Obama ignored it (no doubt on advice of ValerieJ).

Our progressive readers may feel their undies getting into a knot since for years they have accused Bush2 of a perfidious 2003 invasion of Iraq. The only difference is that Bush2, along with leaders worldwide, did listen to his intelligence services and acted accordingly, while Obama did not, and instead acted to bring on the Third Gulf War (here Gulf3) in a quarter century. Let’s hope that he knows how to fight and button up Gulf3 better than Bush2 performed in Gulf2. (Sure would like to see some high ranking brass resign when the CinC ignores the advice and alarums that they are paid to deliver. That would start some interesting national dialogue.)

AG Eric Holder has been another worthy on Team Obama who has wreaked his share of havoc in the public forums. Over the years we have noted and commented on his long list of sins which have in many ways made him an historical standout in that post. His last contribution to Obama’s fundamental transformation of America will be to deprive our constabularies and national security services of the legal use of Bayesian decision tools (more commonly known as ‘profiling’) in their pursuit of bad guys and bad things about to happen. Yep, ol’ Eric will end his ravaging forays across this land with a swift kick in the pants of the Rev Bayes. To cover this significant shortfall we will pray for God’s expanded mercy on us all.

For a more proper and consistent view of the intruder who illegally climbed the fence at 1600 Pennsylvaniaand made it into the depths of the executive mansion before being collared by the Secret Service, the politically correct appellation for the man should be ‘undocumented White House visitor’ as suggested by Sen Ted Cruz. This would put a different pall over the whole case, and be consistent with the pernicious wordplay that characterizes liberal blather. Don’t hold your breath ;-)

A new Stanford report (here) claims to definitively connect California’s recent drought to climate change – with the strong implication being AGW. But you knew that. NPR this morning was making sure that everyone knew without really saying anything – even a couple of words – on how that causal chain was forged by the investigators. Well, dear reader, your faithful commentator has plumbed the depths of their work, it is all based on the application of “advanced statistical techniques to a large suite of climate model simulations.” There, aren’t you glad you asked. The fact that there does not yet exist a reliable general circulation model (GCM) of earth’s atmosphere should make no never mind, since we all know ‘the debate is over’. All we now need to do is pile on a bunch of such studies using GCMs, and before you know it, national carbon taxes will drive energy prices through the roof. Isn’t science wonderful?

Everyone catch Prime Minister Netanyahu’s UN speech(here)? It was a noteworthy presentation to a world audience. He clearly linked the motivations and purpose of the Nazis’ horrific implementation of ‘racial purity’ in their sought after Lebensraum with Islam’s scriptural, now existential, goal of global religious purity using even more horrific methods (in which light we see the beheading in Oklahoma). To that we may add the collectivists’ (Marxists, socialists, communists) fevered goal of attaining global ideological purity best characterized by the collection of social goals under the rubric of the UN’s Agenda 21.

At this point one is prompted to conclude with ‘... other than that, how did you like the play?’

Comments

Back in history, in the bad old days when the Green Gang of Four were dispensing Agenda 21 from the Rood Center, CABPRO and other conservative got Measure D on the ballot. Measure D would have required an economic analysis of all changes to the General Plan and the implementing land use regulations. Measure D failed, in part because of how County Council had written the ballot measure description. The wording just begged for a NO vote. We tried to get the wording changed to more neutral language and the Judge said no. If my only information has been the ballot description, which was the case for most voters, I would voted NO. So, the wording on the ballot is vital when dealing with the low information voter. Since the local left cheered on the BOS and the Judges decision on Measure D, I have little, er no, sympathy for the pro measure S folks. What goes around, comes around.

Thanks for bringing me to tears of laughter Doc. on your second installment above.
OH.. that's a good one!! What a mental picture that makes.
Yup,, drones with thermal cams that can spot those nice hot lights all the way into the basement, count the plants from 3000 feet, and even read the recommendations posted.(if any) And all by satellite control from downtown Sac.
Now lets see the tune change from our commenting Socialists who have voted for these guys.
" Government good... Freedom baaddd..."

'My Uncle Frank in Chicago was a staunch Conservative, and voted straight Republican until the day he died. Since then he has voted Democrat.'

My grandfather from Cook County, Illinois (Chicago), always voted Republican until his death in 1989. While I was in law school in 2002, I researched the voter rolls in Cook County. In 2002 and thirteen years after his death, my grandfather was a registered Democrat. True story.

Holy Smokes! Today's news says that Obama skipped half his intel briefings and another Federal Judge struck down the federal subsidies for Obamacare as illegal. That is 2 judges reaching the same conclusion. And that was just the first two articles. Wonder what else is on top of the fold?

I think I am in the right room since the opening is about the pot lawyer arguing that S will likely result in less growing. Today the ASA on its facebook page unveiled their new slogan. "STOP THE BAN ON MEDICAL CANNABIS" on a billboard in black with yellow letters. So they could not sustain the argument that there was not enough weed in Nevada County, they then have their lawyer say they believe S means less grows while advertising that there is a BAN on WEED in Nevada County? That must be some powerful shit they are smoking! There will be a comedy show in Judge Smiths court in the morning.

That's funny considering that no notification was done to Patti Smith (which has been done by registered mail on all issues before), and the "statement" is the (argument listed on the ballot) is the same argument that the people who are against this ordinance have been using for months.

See this statement is supposed the be "fair and impartial", which obviously it is not.....

Just more shit that the County is trying to pull over on the Measure S folks!

LOL Don, Front page of the Union is pretty good "notification".
And a " no nonsense" statement is more than appropriate. What do you want?
" trust us.. "S" is good." As stated before,, you want the stupid, uninformed, dumbshit vote.
So what are you whining about? My guess is that those who are dope growing renters will be saying " OH DUDE!! Bitch'n!! This is what our dreams are made of!"
It plays into your favor. Dumb and dumber now almost comprehend what "S" really means.

Don Smith makes the real point for me, everyone has seen the arguments for months from both sides yet now they snivel that they did not get a registered copy. Just what election code is that Mr. Smith? In court this morning we were switched from Judge Smith Dept 6 to Anderson in Dept 5 at the last minute and the hearing was continued to 10 am Friday. This all smacks of desperation, filing this after the military ballots went out and votes are coming in and early voting starts Monday. It will be a hoot to hear the people who have spent 10's of thousands of dollars for the last year telling everyone that there was not enough medicine (aka weed) and S would give them enough try and argue that S will likely result in less weed being grown. No, really, that's their written argument. Now we have a new ploy to engage the uneducated bleeding heart voters by claiming that there is a Ban on 'medical cannabis', vote yes on S to overturn the Ban on their new billboard. Ban, what Ban? Talk about bald face lies.

For those who haven't heard, Hillary Clinton and her minions are pissed that her history and connections to Saul Alinskye being dredged up. Well,, we have seen how the burying and non reporting of "O"'s connections got us.( no vetting of Dear Leader what so ever.)
With that, never mind the fact Hillary is sucking the hind tit in the Dem polls of her "non" run for Prez.

Can't this time Barry, the new job is top priority. Otherwise I would bring the popcorn.
I sure would like to see the yes side, argue their case well stoned. The litigators passing a bong on the courthouse steps would make a great front page picture.

walt 406pm - And never mind that as a young unprincipled counsel, she was fired from the Watergate Commission for cause, because according to her boss, "she was a liar (and) she was an unethical, dishonest lawyer.” A penultimate proof that the lamestream is in the progressives' tank, and that it has done a yeoman's job for the last forty years of covering up this fact, one that would have blown the wheels off of anyone else's career, especially if that person had any conservative or Republican leanings.

Its ok MC-Loud, I have friends in pick ups that will be installing the big NO on S signs. Thanks for the offer. As a disabled person I have a different world view. Hey Berry, did you read the munkelt papers? Too rich. Patties propaganda show today was hard to take notes on because I was laughing so hard. 'medical mmj is organic and ... blah blah blah. Pattie also said in BOS testimony that the growers do not listen to the ASA and do not grow the strains they want. Does anyone remember that? She is telling us that NO one listens in the real world to the ASA. They are just the pot profiteers propaganda ministry. So if they do not grow the non-profit pot then why should we believe they will give a shit about any other rules? They do not follow 2349, 215 or 420 now. Its bad enough the bay area is already taking our water pass through but should we let them cart off our little bit of water left in the form of weed for Oakland? We get stuck with the Societal Costs like rehab and reduced productivity in kids and no water and they get the bucks. Wow now that really is bezerkly economics, thanks Patty I will pass on that.

George,, Since she was involved in Watergate she should know that "O" is up to his "jeep fender" ears in the same game.

Don,, "mmj organic"?? So is horse shit. Seems that's what they are really smoking.
They don't abide by the law now as we all know. So no matter what goes down nothing will change. It all about screwing over land lords. On the Union's story on "S" the FB comments can still be viewed. Those are just as full of crap as what is shoveled here.

Seems NID should take a close look at the private water trucks. Those guys are issued water meters, and can legally fill off any fire hydrant. There is one that I know of that loaded up in my neck of the woods, and hauled his load across the county line, and into a known grow aria. ( It just so happens I followed him the whole way on my way to Yuba City) You can bet the farm this isn't the only one.
The dopers are hiring these guys. Any bets they paid big bucks per load?

As has been mentioned on these pages, if it wasn't for weed, GV would go under.. That's the excuse they use to sell illegal drugs, and support the "underground"economy.
That's still no excuse.

It will be interesting on Friday. I was there this morning and Judge Anderson is going to take a serious look at this and had quite a round with County Council to get them to agree to not mail or distribute any material till after Fridays hearing. In my view the ballot statements are quite controversial and lead to conclusions rather than just descriptions. I'm curious what responsibility Greg Diaz's office had to offer guidance in the writing of the descriptions for the ballot to keep them in the framework of the law. I'm sure the California Secretary of State's office is being consulted. It seems our County elections office already had to do a reprint recently. Mistakes cost money if things rule that way,

It's becoming clear that cultivation of maihuana in the outer areas is 100% at odds with any green agenda. Hope the gardens remain small and the wildlife is not disturbed nor our watersheds polluted by terracing and clearing of the forests or diverting our precious water for medicine. Not to mention the fossil fuels burned to get to and fro. Horrible to leave such a carbon foothill in the Sierra Nevada.

Paul & MC-Loud, Pattie had this language for months. Just a grand standing worried knee jerk. Like going to Stop the Ban on Medical Cannabis messaging crap. This is the same as Pattie testified that she wanted an out of cycle ballot prop if the County did not adopt S and she will cost us $100,000.00's. I am the entitled generation, give me what I want or it will cost you, social media, money whatever but give us our way and NOW. Sure lady, so now lets let you do this so you can make some obscure point like S will not result in less growing. Your own words give confirmation to the situational ethics lies we have been forced to listen to for years. How much money did munkelt and the pot crew donate to Anderson?

Yep, Don - Iv'e seen your puny little signs peppered here and there - and unlike you I've left them where they are. I don't need to stalk the neighborhood and steel them. I just love it when you rant buddy - you only make my point about what you are easier. I notice that your perceived popularity is beginning to slide a bit - just keep on keeping on and sooner or later the truth about you will be clear to all!

"Smoking marihuana is more fun than drinking beer,
But a friend of ours was captured and they gave him thirty years
Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why
But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends"
-Phil Ochs

Barry 650, The language in question was before the public at the BOS meeting where measure S was placed on the Nov. Ballot. That I believe was late May. The whole package was at the Elections office for months. Given the number lawyers they have helping, Lake, Munkelt, Fran Cole and so on makes it hard to believe they did not notice it until last week when someone supposedly emailed Pattie. Can we say PR distraction? MC-Loud- aint your buddy. I have no need or desire to be popular with your ilk. Why are you guys spray painting your own signs and covering the Yes? If a person who did not want measure S was doing this they would have done it so the main message on the sign was obscured. I thought you said it was the deputies who were stealing the signs in the middle of the night? ==== The Alta Sierra Poll on S is done and 79% of ASPOA members are AGAINST MEASURE S. All responses totaled were 74% AGAINST MEASURE S with 5% in both having no opinion. So only 16% of ASPOA members and 21% of the community at large drank too much Kool-Aid. Massive community rejection of Measure S. We just need to continue to educate the community about the truth that its all about Profits and not patients. The fact that Munkelt donated to Andersons re-election is a fact in the financials. While the code of judicial ethics says it is technically ok for a judge candidate to take money from a lawyer it is highly discouraged given the obvious public perception of conflict of interest. Its still very odd that the hearing was originally assigned to Smith and at the last minute before it was to be heard it was switched to Anderson.

Sorry Don, but I call BS! You actually expect us to believe anything you say?

Now you're saying that Judge Anderson has been "bought"?

Hmmmm, more interesting comments!

Barry, I understand that she was made aware of this last Thursday, spoke with Mr. Diaz that same day and he did his imitation of Sargent Schultz (from Hogan's Hero's and said "I know nothing, I saw nothing, I read nothing" - what a disappointment he's turning out to be as he has shown us all how really lame he is....).

She then contacted the State of California Fair Elections commission and Stephen Munkelt about this and they drew up the legal documentation on Friday and filed it on Monday.....

Don writes:
"The fact that Munkelt donated to Andersons re-election is a fact in the financials."

Sorry to inform you Don but Tom Anderson will not be the Judge at tomorrow's hearing. Judge Sean Dowling will preside. You can empty that little bit of trash from your mouth. You are really sounding desperate going in direction of claiming crooked judges.

I love it when "law and order" types (Don Bessee, I'm talking to you) take us to task for asking the County to play by the rules. Is it "sniveling" to ask for fairness from our elected officials on something as fundamental as our right to vote? Just who died and appointed you Hall Monitor of Nevada County anyway?

The fact is, I was notified by certified mail (that I had to sign for) on every step of the election process. The only thing they did not notify me of was the actual ballot text statement. I wonder why they thought this crucial piece of information wasn't worth sending to me? The fact is, I wouldn't have even known it existed if someone hadn't sent me the link to Ballotpedia. Silly me, I still expected to get a fair deal from the Elections Office!

One more thing Mr Bessee, you are quite fond of making outrageous statements without a shred of evidence to support your allegations. ASA has not given a dime to any sitting Judge. It is a matter of public record. Look it up.

Well someone be braking the current rules!(law) I have been smelling skunk weed all damned day at my place of employment, and at that vary spot is a school bus stop. From grade school kids to high schoolers. There is no way in hell that that stench is coming from more than the required distance, and is damned sure more that a legal grow would fumigate.

Maybe it time to drop a dime ( ooopsss a buck.. inflation ya' know.) on the somebitch.

Well Pattie, Munkelt is your lawyer and he did give money, which looks like a conflict and that's why the Bar frowns on the practice. While you may be correct Paul, the County officials I spoke with today are all under the impression that it was Anderson again. See ya there in the am. Still, no one has explained why the last second switch to Anderson. I would refer anyone who has questions about the history of the Nevada City Courthouses issues to the Whistleblower who won her law suit against the Courthouse. I was on the Court Reformers Board from the very beginning and have still have all the documents. Remember we initiated the recall of McManus who then retired using a press release written by Joey Jordan. Jordan was at that time Andersons re-election manager. That's sworn testimony in the whistle blower case. We have no love for Greg Diaz either so you guys should have voted for Barry when you had the chance! :-)

Don, what was your response rate, how many emails were sent and what are the raw numbers? What percentage of Alta Sierra residents are voting members of ASPOA? Did ASPOA poll renters, or are the even considered part of your community at large? I'm not saying you don't know how to add, or tht your figures aren't accurate. I am saying I don't trust you, your math or your statements and extrapolations without independent confirmation. I've studied enough statistics to know that improperly presented figures can make 2+3 appear to be 4.

OK, Don, how many members/non members did you poll? And if you polled non members, what right did you have to use their email addresses? So lets have it, what did you send out, and what did you have reply's to? Because 100% of 10 sent and 10 responded is 100%.

Brad Patriot-Glasse, heard this language from you when you were the ASA pollster. Remember that article? The ASPOA poll comments tell the story. You guys are just solidifying already suspicious people with your exploitation of veterans and sick kids that are used in legalization campaigns when we have a land use issue. HERE IS A STATISTIC THAT PROVES THE ASA IS LYING TO US- THERE WERE ONLY 7 ABATEMENTS THIS YEAR. SO WHERE IS THE BAN PEOPLE? --No out of area recommendations should be allowed to the Pot Profiteers if its about Medicine! Oh ya pattie can you tell us why if there is year around growing that you are out of high cbd weed? Could it be because the growers as you said in the BOS do not listen to you and do not grow what you claim you need? So why if the growers do not listen to you on this issue should we believe they will follow your soo organic mmj claims? The truth is too many neighborhoods have personal experience with growers. By the way you were right and Rennette Senum is wrong, Pit Bull not lap dog!

I have heard there is a poor soul on Lefty Jeffies Liberal Lament Land who is seeking a NO on S sign. Since I am banned for truth telling from Lefty Land let me offer this. If you are a Republican, go to the Fowler Center by B & C Hardware and you can get one sided and two sided to suit your needs. In addition there is an independent business oriented official committee the Neighbors Who Care and they have a ton too. Did anyone see the stupid press release from the pot heads that claimed there was a pro S business group? The website is by Citizens For Fair Laws, AKA Pattie Smith. Yet there are no real businesses listed and in fact No business at all. I was at the first ASA meeting in Penn Valley with Pattie and we did a forum/debate. Lets go old school Pattie and you and me do a real debate like the old days? No lawyers, just you and me.

Ha Ha Ha old Don thinks I'm Brad again, just like the old days on The Union. Fantasy time! WRONG AGAIN DONNY! Show us your data, if you are truthful you should have nothing to hide! No Don, I'm NOT BRAD.

I see no listing for Neighbors Who Care in California, there's one in Arizona, but that's a long way to go for a sign. Maybe NCARCC has some? Wait a sec.! They aren't around anymore either. Have you had your rabies shot?

I wanted to thank Pascalle at YubaNet for correcting my misremembering. The BOS meeting with the disputed language that we all were at was actually in April of this year. Not late May. Apologies. I was very clear with my offer to Pattie. I guess dave smith has given us our answer. :-)

Wow, Don. If there were only 7 abatements, how many complaints were unfounded then? Do we really need (I think it is) two full time abatement officers? Let's save the taxpayers and the County a few sheckles and get rid of one. Sounds like a part time job to me. I also think that makes it safe to say that either the Sheriff's unsubstantiated claim of dozens of complaints daily was probably grossly inflated when 2349 was passed (just like his Jack-in-the-beanstalk plants), or the hundreds of complaints he said he received prior to 2349 were basically unfounded (or unrelated to legitimate patients). Yet, thousands of voters, patients and caregivers probably (still) trying to comply thought the BoS overstepped. Measure S supporters have given the BoS time to revisit, if they had, maybe this whole mess could have been avoided.

Does anyone really think 2349 really caused that dramatic a drop in out of compliance medical grows? Perhaps a few were able to comply, maybe many just obeyed and didn't plant this year because they couldn't. What do they do instead? They support the Black Market. MANY don't want to, but they are being forced to for their health. If Measure S doesn't pass, the corner dealers pushing pills and meth are happy to have another product they can profit from, and they don't check ID. Let's not forget, legit MMJ patients probably have much more money to spend with them on medication than high school kids anyway.

Something doesn't add up here. That's really nothing new from this crew. I wonder where the real lies are?

I'll also tell you what Ban YES on S refers to Don, Sit, grab a glass of whine and let me "school you". "The Ban" is the present "practical" ban that is the result of disallowing sound agricultural practices, requiring cultivation only on a single level plane in hill country, disallowing separate areas for mature and immature stock with totally different growing requirements. Not enough? Let me go on. Proscriptive setbacks that exceed State Standard or are nearly impossible to identify (where is the active bus stop list, Don?). Landlord restrictions that are legally ill-advised to comply with (self incriminate to rent? I don't think so). How about the belief that LE can enter your premises basically at any time? The No proponents say we don't want to be another Mendo. The Yes folk say we don't want to become Afghanistan, with you and Bishop Allen playing Mullah.

These are just a few of the details that make 2349 a de-facto ban. Don't for a moment think "the Ban" doesn't look to a future where, if Measure S does not pass, the Board could take it upon themselves to pass an actual complete ban on cultivation, with heavy per plant fines, as is being attempted (and challenged at great expense to all) in other less enlightened parts of the State. So as you see there is both the "present Ban" (virtual) of 2349 and the potential "future ban" that could be enacted by short sighted politicians in the future. Hope that gives you and a few others something to ruminate on for a while. Lets hope there is fair judgement tomorrow, one that protects the electoral process, regardless of which Justice is seated.

On a side note, So do I have to show a Republican Card if I start to foam at the mouth, change my mind on S and want a NO sign? Submit to a blood test? Do you have an Etsy shop?

I personally have watched the effects of cannabis as a healing substance. I believe that if you want to use it as an alternative to addictive drugs, you should have that right. If you want to grow it for yourself and others, you should have that right. If you want pot you can either get it from a legal source or get it from an illegal source. So I guess you need to decide if you want the criminal element that comes along with the illegal source, or want to see it regulated in a way where people who need it for medicine can have it, and the people who use it for recreation will obtain it through regulated sources. Measure S is not the perfect solution, but it’s by far better than what we have in place at the moment as the regulations in this county make it ridiculously hard to grow and who knows when the Sherif and his Posse will wake you up in the middle of the night and raid your property. It's not just about growing pot people, it's about your rights as a property owner and tax payer as well.

I'm a property owner here in Nevada County, and I feel it is my right as such that I should be able to do with my property what I want. That is not to say that I should create a nuisance in the eye of our Sheriff, because if I did, I might be awakened in the middle of the night with a bang on the door - ordering me to get up and comply ( to who's rules?). I have giving and loving neighbors that I have cultivated by being the same. I live with many inconveniences as a result of other neighbors rights, but in the bigger scheme of things, I have learned to be tolerant.

What I really find so seriously wrong is that someone with a public record of arrests and restraining orders is someone the Sheriff parades in front of the people as credible. This guy has bullied his way into numerous agendas, and has been asked (politely at first) to stop speaking on behalf of those associations. I know, because I was in attendance of two of the meetings where he was admonished. The local property owners association he is a board member of is endorsing a ballot measure which is in total violation of a 501 3c - and could face IRS ramifications. But yet he stands ( or thinks he does) at the right hand of Royalty.

The Sheriff and his Posse have stomped their way into the lives of many. Arresting, criminalizing and defacing descent and law abiding people. • The Sheriff claims that the majority of homicides occurring in Nevada County in the past five years have been all directly related to marijuana, but when pressed for specifics gives only general percentages. • Just like Besse, when asked how many people polled by his silly neighborhood club makes up 70% - he won’t give the answer. • The wording on the ballot is so biased as is the statement on BOS Letterhead calling for a No Vote on this important measure. • They backed out of a debate that might have shed light for many on how a Yes Vote on Measure S is a step in the right direction. • Now they face a law suit and potentially thousands of dollars to correct language on the ballot when all they needed to do was to send it along to Patty Smith as they managed to do by certified mail for every other step of the process.

Now I realize George by answering your question that I’m opening myself up to the rants of ol’ D. Bessee, and to tell you the truth I can’t even follow much of what he writes because it is so dis-jointed ( he admits to being disabled by the way ). I’m serious about just letting him go on and on just so he can show his lack of intelligence and or ethics and morals. So have at it Don, but I must point out that you are sliding down a very slippery slope. I notice DB is not involved in the next debate with the League of Women Voters either, but then again I know first hand that Women are a lot better about sniffing out crap!

Just got back from the court hearing on the ballot text language issue. Judge Dowling found that the county "missed the mark" at writing an impartial statement. No surprise there. It comes down to what kind of government do we want in NC?

Do we want tyrants that will stoop to any level to stifle the voice of constituents who do not agree with them? Or do we want our elected officials to play by the rules? Someone has to hold them accountable when they step over the line - and they clearly have done so on numerous occasions when dealing with the Medical Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance.

I have tried to be fair with the elections Office, but they have been wrong about so many issues that they are either incompetent or unethical. If I was in charge of that office, I would have studied the election code dealing with voter initiatives, special elections, and election code, but every time I asked a question, I was given conflicting information or they just didn't know the answer. Now they are saying it was my fault for not discovering the ballot text earlier when they did not notify me as required. They clearly tried to sneak this past the voters and now they have been called out by Judge Dowling.

We'll have to wait a few hours to hear Judge Dowling's verdict, but I believe he will rule that we were right in our belief that the words on the ballot text were purposefuly misleading to provoke a NO vote on S, but there may not be enough time for a practical remedy (even though there is precedence from the Primary election when the ballots went out late due to a printing error).

You have criticized the good friend and the recipient of his $500 donation to Mr. Diaz. Jeff Pelline, the former Union Editor will not be pleased with your taking Mr. Diaz to task. Anyway, when I did the Measure F Initiative we had to stay on top of the process real tight to make sure there were no shenanigans at elections.

I do not know of a law that requires the election office to provide the ballot language to the proponents, but communicating with proponents and candidates (going above and beyond what is required) is required of our elected officials.

If this suit had been brought by a citizen (or perhaps class) instead of ASA / Patti Smith, would that be different? The Measure was placed on the ballot by the voters. If either ASA or the County failed to handle things properly, should the people's right to an unbiased ballot process be sacrificed? Does this right trump a slight lack of due diligence? Has there been a pattern of obstructionism in the development of either 2349 and/or Measure S? I think the proper decision is clear, once the language has been found to fall short.

Here is a "bias" statement: "Unemployment is now at 5.6%!" ( In reality it's 12.4%)
These are real numbers. No fabrications.
It's bias because of playing with numbers that don't tell the whole story,, that is disingenuous.